title: Colchicine treatment in children with familial Mediterranean fever: is it a risk factor for neuromyopathy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We cared for a 17-year-old adolescent with familial Mediterranean fever under colchicine treatment. Because of the increased creatinine kinase level (3937 U/L) observed in this individual, we planned to assess all pediatric patients with familial Mediterranean fever under colchicine treatment to detect any resultant neuromyopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 88 children with familial Mediterranean fever who were receiving colchicine. The patient with myopathy was not included in the study. Serum creatinine kinase levels were measured and nerve conduction studies were carried out in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 88 patients (47 female, 53.4%) with an average age of 10.1 ± 3.35 years. The average period of colchicine use was 28.25 ± 17.66 months. Side effects of colchicine were detected in 10 patients (11%)--as diarrhea in eight patients, leukopenia in one patient, and hair loss in one patient. Nerve conduction studies determined incidental carpal tunnel syndrome in only one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study did not suggest an elevated risk of neuromyopathy associated with the use of colchicine for familial Mediterranean fever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Gaziantep Children's Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey. Electronic address: dr.sedatisikay@mynet.com.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Işıkay
authors.forename: Kutluhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Remzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yiğiter
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balat
authors.forename: Mithat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Büyükçelik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D003404:Creatinine; D003078:Colchicine
keywords: children; colchicine; familial Mediterranean fever; myopathy; neuropathy